title: Functional implications of an early exposure to general anesthesia: are we changing the behavior of our children?
abstract: There is a rapidly growing body of animal and clinical evidence suggesting that the exposure to anesthetics and sedatives during the critical stages of brain development results in long-lasting (perhaps permanent) impairment in cognitive development in a variety of mammalian species. With improved understanding of the mechanisms responsible for behavioral outcomes of anesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity, there is hope for development of protective strategies that will enable safe use of anesthesia in the youngest members of our society. Here, I review presently available evidence regarding anesthesia-induced neurocognitive and social behavioral impairments and possible strategies for preventing them. I also review limited and somewhat controversial evidence that examines the effects of nociception and surgical stimulation on anesthesia--induced developmental neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, PO Box 800710, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0710, USA, vj3w@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jevtovic-Todorovic
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011323:Primates / Q000502:physiology